Bluesound Node 2

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Bluesound Node 2

JOIN THE STREAMING REVOLUTION.

The NODE 2 was made to connect traditional HiFis — or simply a set of powered speakers — to the exciting new world of streaming audio and Internet radio. With the ability to connect to a wide range of digital and analog sources, the NODE 2 instantly breathes new life into equipment even decades old.

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Bluesound Node 2

JOIN THE STREAMING REVOLUTION.

The NODE 2 was made to connect traditional HiFis — or simply a set of powered speakers — to the exciting new world of streaming audio and Internet radio. With the ability to connect to a wide range of digital and analog sources, the NODE 2 instantly breathes new life into equipment even decades old.

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Product Description

The CPU has been substantially upgraded from the previous generation, and is one of the most powerful ARM® CORTEX™ processors available, with A9 cores and a 1GHz clock speed. This delivers flawless decoding of lossless files at high sampling rates, and snappy response times to complex tasks. Massive computing power takes the streaming experience to new levels of responsiveness and control.

The NODE 2, like all Bluesound Players, is controlled from your smartphone or tablet using the free BIuOS™ App. The App brings all your music sources together for complete control whether they are in the cloud, on your computer or phone, or from almost any other source via the various digital and analog inputs. Stream from Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, or connect to your wired LAN. Whatever the musical source, Bluesound will play it in the highest available resolution – all the way up to studio master 24/192 resolution.

“It offers all the connections you need, including a 12-volt trigger that’s useful for turning an amplifier on/off. I connected it to a Niles multi-channel amp that drove a pair of Origin Acoustics D104 speakers, and it performed exactly as it should.” - John Sciacca

“The Node 2 also makes it easier – and faster – to skip tracks and adjust volumes through a touch control panel that rests on a recessed mesh grill at the top. With the Node, you had to rely solely on the Bluesound app for those controls… The Node 2, which supports a wide range of audio formats like FLAC and WAV, is more endowed than the Node in terms of connectivity options. Bluetooth aptX is now built in, along with a front headphone jack for hooking up a pair of cans. It also supports 802.11n, and a new Wi-Fi chipset for more stable connections. Other additions include a new coaxial digital output connector, a subwoofer output to boost the lows and a combo Toslink/3.5mm audio input. Like the original Node, setting up the Node 2 was easy peasy. After connecting to the Node 2’s access point and registering the device on my Wi-Fi network, I was ready to start indexing music files on my network drive with the Bluesound app. Indexing and skipping tracks seemed a tad faster than before. How does the Node 2 fare, beyond design, connectivity and the speed boost? We were told that the Node 2 sports the same DAC as the original Node – and indeed, the Node 2 retains the sonic character of its predecessor. On a pair of vintage Polk Audio LS70 floor standing speakers, vocals on the Node 2 sounded warm and detailed. Specifically, in Michael Ruff’s That’s Not Me, you can hear the distinct bass line that’s not overpowering, but it’s definitely there. In a recording by the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, the orchestra is driven fiercely. The strings also do a phenomenal job – attacks are crisp and the tone is never too coarse. And finally in my all-time favourite test track, O-daiko by Yoshikazu Fujimoto, big Japanese drums sounded solid and clean with a crisp impact, while not overshadowing the calls made by drummers during the performance. For S$799, the Node 2 is a worthwhile investment, but more importantly it’s from a company which produces one of the most neutral-sounding audio gear that play well with other brands.”

“We’ve already given the Node 2 a five-star review, and revisiting it for the full system review reminds us just why. It’s as expressive as it is subtle, able to pick out fine detail and give real depth and insight to instruments and vocals alike. That’s not to say it’s a soft touch – turn up the tempo and the Node 2 is able to jump straight in with energy and enthusiasm, offering a punchy but refined performance across the board… We’re big fans of the new Bluesound range. It sounds as good as ever, with some well-judged improvements and great new additions making it a stronger proposition than ever. Price will be a consideration – it’s a little more costly than much of the competition – but if you’re looking for a multiroom system that’s flexible, will support a high-resolution library and sounds excellent, it’s a consideration worth making.”

“Angels by The xx is the perfect track to get started, and it immediately shows off the expressive, revealing nature of the Node 2. Vocals are full of texture, focus and detail, while the instrumental hangs beautifully in between. It’s a recording that relies on subtlety and accuracy and the Node 2 has no trouble in delivering. Switch up the tempo to a Spotify stream of Disclosure’s Willing & Able and the Node 2 springs to life, clinging onto the pulsing bassline with rhythmic fervour. As the beat starts to build, the Node 2 is never fazed by complexities, showing a dynamic adeptness for switching between the laid-back verses and more involved chorus without a stutter. The bass is precise in its punchiness – it doesn’t deliver the most powerful low end, but it’s solid and controlled throughout. It balances itself well with the rest of the frequency range, which means nothing feels out of place – the midrange is focused and full of detail, offering plenty of insight to high-res tracks and streams alike, while the treble is clean and open. It’s only with Bluetooth that you’ll hear this refined character slip just slightly, but it’s largely forgiving and will make the best of whatever file type you throw at it. There’s a really likeable enthusiasm and fluidity to the Node 2’s character that works across all genres, and while we’d take just a touch more attack for really upbeat tracks, the levels of fine detail and musicality this delivers on more than makes up for it. The Node 2’s performance has us as entertained as its predecessor did last year, and is one of the easiest ways to upgrade your system with minimal fuss and outlay. With its improved connectivity and better design, alongside a performance as good as this, the Node 2 is now a more attractive proposition than ever.

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Bluesound Node 2

JOIN THE STREAMING REVOLUTION.

The NODE 2 was made to connect traditional HiFis — or simply a set of powered speakers — to the exciting new world of streaming audio and Internet radio. With the ability to connect to a wide range of digital and analog sources, the NODE 2 instantly breathes new life into equipment even decades old.